Daily Archives: February 5, 2022

In his annual letter to CEOs this year, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink urged other chief executives to harness the "power of capitalism" to influence society and serve as a catalyst for positive change.

Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist, has a very different view on the nature of capitalism. In a new interview with Yahoo Finance taped on Jan. 27, Ocasio-Cortez suggested that people often have different definitions of terms like socialism or capitalism.

"When we toss out these big words, capitalism, socialism, they get ... sensationalized, and people translate them into meaning things that perhaps they don't mean," she told Yahoo Finance's editor-in-chief, Andy Serwer. "So to me, capitalism, at its core, what we're talking about when we talk about that is the absolute pursuit of profit at all human, environmental, and social cost."

Ocasio-Cortez, widely known as AOC, has attacked this notion of capitalism frequently since she beat longtime incumbent Joseph Crowley, the No. 4 House Democrat, in 2018 to represent a New York district covering parts of the Bronx and Queens. She is one of four democratic socialists in Congress, along with Cori Bush of Missouri, fellow New Yorker Jamaal Bowman, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

The Democratic Socialists of America defines this system as "one where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society." For her part, Ocasio-Cortez envisions a "more just economy" as one where workers have more power as they do in unionized workplaces or in worker cooperatives that workers collectively own and operate.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 03: U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) (L) stands with Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) during a news conference on the eviction moratorium at the Capitol on August 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

"You know, we're here in the Bronx," she said during her interview with Yahoo Finance, which was filmed in that borough. "I represent a community that has the largest concentration of worker cooperatives in ... one of the largest concentrations in the world."

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One worker cooperative in the Bronx, an employee-owned home care agency called Cooperative Home Care Associates, describes itself as the largest worker cooperative in the U.S., employing roughly 2,000 Black and Latinx workers.

"Now these are alternative ways of doing business," Ocasio-Cortez told Yahoo Finance. "Free markets are not the same thing as capitalism."

AOC has pointed to her own online store which sells merchandise like "Tax the Rich" T-shirts as a different way of doing business. When former White House press secretary Sean Spicer accused her of "using capitalism to push socialism" in a tweet, she tweeted back the same definition of capitalism that she used with Yahoo Finance.

"Not sure if you know this Sean, but transactions aren't capitalism," she wrote. "...but fwiw, our shop is unionized, doesn't operate for profit, & funds projects like free tutoring, food programs, & local organizing."

Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Ocasio-Cortez described American billionaires as the epitome of capitalism.

"What we're also discussing is the ability for a very small group of actual capitalists, and that is, people who have so much money that their money makes money, and they don't have to work," she said. "They can control industry, they can control our energy sources, they can control our labor ...They can essentially have power over the many. And to me, that is not a redeemable system."

Erin Fuchs is deputy managing editor at Yahoo Finance.

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AOC: Capitalism 'is the absolute pursuit of profit' at all costs - Yahoo Finance

Five years ago this month, William Stephen Belichick was entered as a possible material witness in the Aaron Hernandez double-murder trial. Ultimately, those proceedings came and went without the New England Patriots coach being called for testimony.

But if youre listening to Brian Flores right now, things could go far differently in the class-action lawsuit filed by the former Miami Dolphins coach.

Because the more Flores speaks, the more he appears to point to Belichick as being a significant witness and possibly even a participant in some of the systemic problems plaguing the NFLs hiring process. Thats what Flores suggested this week on the National Public Radio podcast The Limits. That notion went a little further beyond Belichicks texts being included as an exhibit in the lawsuit. If youre unfamiliar with those texts, Belichick mistakenly texted Flores what appeared to be congratulations on getting the New York Giants head coaching job. The problem: Belichick thought he was speaking to Brian Daboll, the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, and not Brian Flores, who had yet to have his interview for that same Giants job.

A fairly expansive lawsuit was filed in the wake of that interaction, firing off what amounts to three major allegations: Overall systemic racial discrimination against Black NFL coaches; Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross incentivizing tanking by offering Flores $100,000 for each loss he accrued in 2019; and Ross trying to influence Flores to tamper with a player who has been identified in media reports as Tom Brady.

Brian Flores says Bill Belichick played an influential role in the Giants hiring Brian Daboll as head coach. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Belichicks part in the bomb blast of claims: He let the cat out of the bag when it came to Dabolls hiring, effectively proving that the leagues minority interview mandates are little more than a sham. Flores went further on Thursday, telling "The Limits" podcast that Belichick didnt just let the cat out of the bag with Dabolls hiring he also played a part of getting the cat into the bag in the first place.

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As Flores framed it in the interview:

I think there are back channel conversations and back channel meetings that are had that oftentimes influence decisions. I think [the Giants hiring process] is a clear example of that. Bill Belichick is a clear example of that. His resume speaks to that. It was clear to me that decision was made with his influence. Thats part of the problem. That needs to change. There needs to be a fair and equal opportunity to interview and showcase your abilities to lead and earn one of those positions.

Thats a massive statement from Flores. He has gone from saying, Bill Belichick accidentally tipped me off to a sham interview to Bill Belichick played a part in the system that has created sham interviews.

Whether thats the case or not will be debated. Both Daboll and Flores coached for Belichick, so theres bound to be some natural overlap when two coaches who shared time in the same Patriots program are later vying for a position with the Giants. Naturally, there would be an assumption that Belichick would get a call, particularly given that it has already been reported that Belichick was influential in helping former special teams coach Joe Judge win the previous Giants head coaching search.

This time, however, the Giants put out a statement declaring sternly: Mr. Belichick does not speak for and has no affiliation with the Giants.

So how was Belichick involved? Was he asked to give an assessment of two coaches or did he play a part in fixing Dabolls hiring? Is he merely an important reference figure on the head coaching circuit, or is he one part of a larger machine that has facilitated exponentially more white head coaches than Black ones? Those are questions that would surely be litigated if this lawsuit moves into a courtroom.

What cant be litigated now is whether Flores assertion moves Belichick deeper into the folds of the legal process that we could see play out. The verdict on that is clear. It absolutely does.

If this advances to the discovery process, Flores' attorneys are going to try to showcase whatever role Belichick played and how he came to know whatever he knew about Daboll and the Giants' job. And the way you do that is to find out who else Belichick might have been texting, calling or emailing. It means he would almost certainly be deposed in this case and also very likely be called as a material witness.

Thats another fascinating aspect in this, Bill Belichick the legendary coach who answers what he wants, when he wants, and if he wants, being transformed into Bill Belichick the sworn-under-oath witness who has little choice but to explain himself. That might be the most intriguing witness box examination of an authority figure since Jack Nicholsons Nathan Jessup told Tom Cruises Daniel Kaffee you cant handle the truth.

One way or another, Flores is blazing a legal path toward whatever truth ultimately gets thrust into the light at the end of this. And its becoming more evident that part of that light is getting tilted into Belichicks direction, whether he wants it or not.

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As Brian Flores speaks, the deeper he draws Bill Belichick into his class-action lawsuit against the NFL - Yahoo Sports

Former Vice President Mike Pence issued a forceful rebuke of Donald Trump on Friday, saying the former president is wrong to claim that Pence had the authority to change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

President Trump is wrong, Pence said in a speech to the conservative Federalist Society in Florida. I had no right to overturn the election.

Former Vice President Mike Pence at an event in November 2021. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP File)

As is customary for a vice president, Pence oversaw the certification of the Electoral College vote and reportedly rejected direct appeals made by Trump and members of his inner circle urging him to simply refuse to declare Joe Biden the winner in six battleground states.

With Pence presiding over the Senate on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress set about certifying the election results, a mob of Trumps supporters descended on the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent lawmakers and Pence from declaring Biden the official winner.

A mob clashed with Capitol police, forcing its way inside the Capitol building, some of them chanting, Hang Mike Pence!

Then-President Donald Trump speaking near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Pence has mostly remained quiet about Trumps pressure campaign and his role in inciting the mob. But the former vice presidents strong words Friday came in response to comments made by Trump earlier this week in which he once again pushed the false narrative that Pence could have overturned the election and reinstalled Trump as the president.

In a statement on Sunday, Trump seemed to issue his most explicit public admission to date that hed tried to convince Pence to change the outcome of the 2020 election, writing, Unfortunately, he didnt exercise that power, he could have overturned the Election!

In another statement, issued Tuesday, Trump went even further, suggesting that the House select committee investigating Jan. 6 should look into why Mike Pence did not send back the votes for recertification or approval.

Trump supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Washington Post via Getty Images)

At the Federalist Society gathering, Pence defended his decision, saying, Under the Constitution, I had no right to change the outcome of our election.

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The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone, Pence said. Frankly, there is no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president.

Pences former chief of staff, Marc Short, testified last week before the select committee, and Pences former chief counsel, Greg Jacob, met with the committee Tuesday.

On Friday, the Republican National Committee censured the two Republican members of the committee, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, for their participation in the inquiry.

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Pence: 'Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election.' - Yahoo News

Special to Yahoo Sports

Were less than a week away from the NBA Trade Deadline (Feb. 10). Like last weeks fantasy basketball waiver wire column, Ill once again be focusing in part on players to consider adding in advance of the looming deadline for deals, since it represents the last opportunity for a significant shakeup (apart from the constant churn of injuries and illness) heading into the playoff rounds of fantasy leagues.

Long-time fantasy basketball managers know firsthand that the trade deadline has played a role in turning rotational afterthoughts into statistical standouts, and vice versa.

Without further ado, here are 10 players to pick up heading into Week 17.

Okeke is coming off his most productive month of the campaign, having averaged 9.5 points, 5.4 boards, 2.2 threes, 1.8 dimes, 1.8 steals and 0.7 blocks across 25.8 minutes in January. The fact that so many of his shot attempts come from beyond the arc helps explain his underwhelming field-goal percentage, but his otherwise well-rounded stat profile and defensive excellence make him a solid contributor in most fantasy formats. Furthermore, with the trade deadline approaching, he could be in line for an even larger role if the Magic move some of their established veterans.

Mitchell poured in a career-high 26 points to go along with eight dimes, three treys and one steal in 38 minutes during Thursdays game against Golden State. Moreover, the rookie is averaging 19.4 points, 5.6 assists and 2.8 threes over the last five matchups. The recent absence of DeAaron Fox (ankle), who has been sidelined for the last seven contests, has allowed Mitchell the opportunity to operate on-ball more often lately, and thats when hes most comfortable offensively.

[So many reasons to play Yahoo DFS: Learn more now and get in on the fun]

A superb positional defender who has mostly maintained a regular rotation role due to what he brings to the table on that end, Mitchell has been treating us to a taste of what hes capable of accomplishing in a larger role. If Fox is moved before the trade deadline or struggles with injuries going forward, Mitchell clearly has plenty of upside.

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Over the last seven outings, Melton is averaging 12.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 threes, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks in 24.3 minutes. In the last two games, he has seen a combined 33 minutes, and playing time remains the primary concern regarding Meltons fantasy value just as it was during the two previous seasons. Still, Melton is maintaining career highs in scoring (9.8 PPG), rebounding (4.4 RPG), steals (1.6 SPG) and minutes (22.8 MPG). As such, hes worthy of consideration in most formats, at least until Dillon Brooks (ankle) returns.

Claxton was quiet in his first three games back following a two-week absence due to a hamstring injury. However, he was magnificent in Wednesdays matchup versus the Kings, racking up 23 points, 11 boards, five blocks, one assist and one steal in 29 minutes. Especially while LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) is sidelined, Claxton is worth adding in all formats. With that being said, I wouldnt be in a rush to drop Claxton even once Aldridge returns to the rotation, as the young big man has showcased considerable improvement over the last couple of months.

Go add Nicolas Claxton off the waiver wire this week. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Its unclear how soon Kristaps Porzingis (knee) will be ready to return, and its possible the Mavericks will err on the side of caution heading into the All-Star break. If thats the case, Kleber should be a strong short-term addition, given that he is averaging 9.6 points, 6.3 boards, 1.9 threes, 1.7 blocks, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steal in 27.7 minutes over the last seven contests.

Rose (ankle) is reportedly planning to return shortly after the All-Star break, and its safe to say his ability to create offensively has been missed. Alec Burks and Kemba Walker have been inconsistent, to say the least, and Julius Randle has regressed following last years breakout. Through 26 appearances, Rose is averaging 12.0 points (44.5% FG, 40.2% 3PT, 96.8% FT), 4.0 dimes, 3.0 boards, 1.4 threes, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 24.5 minutes.

While his three-point and free-throw shooting percentages (both career highs) will likely come back down to earth, its possible that going forward Rose will be even more involved, and thus even more productive in terms of collecting counting stats.

Since serving a (lenient) one-game suspension for the flagrant foul that resulted in a broken wrist for Chicagos Alex Caruso, Allen has earned at least 30 minutes in each of his last three appearances while averaging 12.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 threes and 1.0 steal. Milwaukee has been making a concerted effort to get him involved early on as of late, and if he can rediscover his early season form, hes a decent pickup especially in deep leagues.

In the first four games since the Mavericks lost Tim Hardaway Jr. (foot) for the rest of the season, Bullock has been the biggest beneficiary from a fantasy standpoint by far. With Dallas in desperate need of someone to fill Hardaways shoes in terms of willingness to unconsciously hoist away from beyond the arc Bullock is answering the call, providing 17.8 points, 5.3 boards, 4.5 threes and 1.8 steals in 29.5 minutes during this recent stretch. Having knocked down a career-high 2.5 threes per game last season on a Knicks team that didnt have a surplus of outside shooters, Bullock is no stranger to relentlessly firing away from three-point land. Barring a roster shakeup prior to the trade deadline, Bullocks ability to space the floor offensively and cover multiple positions defensively makes him a good bet to continue earning plenty of minutes for the remainder of the year.

Across the last seven games, Mathews is averaging 15.0 points, 3.1 threes, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 26.4 minutes. As things stand, Mathews is best reserved for use in deep leagues. Nevertheless, if Eric Gordons tenure in Houston is nearing its end, that could mean even more playing time for Mathews, given that Gordon is averaging a hearty 29.7 minutes.

Mann exploded for 29 points while adding six treys, three dimes, one steal and one block in 41 minutes during Wednesdays win over the Mavericks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) is out until after the All-Star break, and Aaron Wiggins suffered an ankle injury against Dallas, as well.

Those looking for a proven contributor may want to search elsewhere. Still, the talented rookie guard is worthy of consideration, particularly in points leagues.

Recent recommendations still rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues: Amir Coffey, Luke Kennard, Royce ONeale, Justin Holiday, Kevin Huerter, Matisse Thybulle, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kevon Looney, Isaiah Jackson, Devin Vassell, Otto Porter Jr., Patrick Beverley, Trey Lyles, Onyeka Okongwu, Brandon Clarke, Alperen Sengun, Nicolas Batum, Thaddeus Young, Hamidou Diallo, Cory Joseph, Goran Dragic

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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: 10 players to consider before the NBA Trade Deadline - Yahoo Sports

When Michael Jordan retired at the height of his popularity, the NBA soon learned a hard truth. It had no heir to Air Jordan, no emerging superstar prepared to step into Jordans high tops and drive revenue and viewership.

In 1998, a record TV audience tuned in to watch Jordans Last Dance Chicago Bulls capture their sixth and final NBA title. In 1999, the NBA no longer had Jordan to sell and ratings for the Finals plummeted to an 18-year low.

The NBAs post-Jordan ratings decline raises an intriguing question: Should the NFL brace for a similar dip in viewership now that its GOAT is also retiring? Or is the NFL now so ingrained in American viewing habits that even the loss of Tom Brady wont dent TV ratings?

The answer, former TV executives told Yahoo Sports, is that the NFL wont feel Bradys absence anywhere near as much as the NBA did Jordans. The loss of a well-known quarterback can sink a particular teams marketability or viewership, but no single players retirement not even Bradys can produce a leaguewide ratings downturn.

I dont think theres anything that tells us that the loss of a major star impacts the viewing of the league as a whole, said Patrick Crakes, an ex-Fox Sports executive turned media consultant.

While Brady won seven Super Bowls, launched his own health and wellness brand, and married a Brazilian supermodel, not even he has had anywhere near the cultural impact that Jordan did. There are no Like Tom commercial jingles. He doesnt have his own signature brand of shoes, nor has he teamed with a cast of animated characters in a blockbuster movie.

The NFL also traditionally isnt as star-reliant as the NBA. By the very nature of the sport, the leagues team-centric marketing efforts, and the impact of gambling and fantasy football, the NFL can more easily withstand the retirement of Brady than the NBA could, say, LeBron James.

Theres a very different dynamic between football and basketball, Crakes said. The NFL is much more about all the different parts put together than it is one great player. The NBA is a star-driven league, and Jordan was that sports biggest star ever.

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In his two seasons in Tampa Bay, Brady certainly elevated his new teams stature. A Bucs team that was only occasionally on national TV during the Jameis Winston era immediately became a staple of "Sunday Night Football" or "Monday Night Football."

Eleven of Tampa Bays 17 regular season games this season aired in at least half of television markets, according to Sports Media Watch. That number is likely to plummet next season unless the Bucs were to replace Brady with Aaron Rodgers or another prominent quarterback.

To me, it takes Tampa off the board, said Jay Rosenstein, a former vice president of programming at CBS Sports. Brady was the reason people were following Tampa. They dont have the magnetic attraction they had before.

The good news for the NFL is that there are plenty of talented young quarterbacks who appear capable of collectively filling the viewership void created by Bradys retirement. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray and Joe Burrow are each ascending and each 26 years old or younger.

There are so many other quarterbacks jumping off the page right now that you dont necessarily lose anything by losing Brady, Rosenstein said.

Of course, the last time the NFL lost a quarterback of Bradys stature, the league did endure a subsequent decline in viewership. TV ratings declined sharply in 2016 after Peyton Mannings retirement, but Crakes and Rosenstein are skeptical that Mannings decision to step away from football was the primary factor.

The 2016 season coincided with the explosive presidential race between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton. Crakes contends that news coverage of the campaign and its aftermath siphoned away many more casual viewers from the NFL than Mannings absence did.

In 2016, the real problem was the increase in news viewing, Crakes said. Peyton had an impact. You dont want to lose him. But far more important was the news of the election.

Will Bradys retirement have an impact? Is a casual fan as likely to be drawn in by Mahomes or Allen or Burrow? Judging from the ratings of the first two games of the post-Brady era, the NFL should be just fine.

Last Sundays AFC overtime classic between Burrows Bengals and Mahomes Chiefs was the NFLs most-watched conference championship game in six years in the afternoon window. And the nightcap between the Rams and 49ers produced an eight-year viewership high for the NFC title game.

On the field of play, Brady might be Jordans equal. From a viewership standpoint, he is not.

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Will the NFL suffer a post-Tom Brady ratings dip? Here's what experts say - Yahoo Sports

BEIJING In the moments before the crash that ended ones career but not the others, Chris Mazdzer and Jayson Terdiman felt free.

They were zooming down a luge track in Sigulda, Latvia, just as they had hundreds of times over the years. They were speeding around curves, blissfully at one with each other and their sled. They were two luge lifers, partners as teens and now again in their 30s, flying toward the 2022 Olympics. Muscle memory took over. Autopilot kicked in. It was everything theyd envisioned, everything theyd worked for, everything that, they hoped, would take them to a Beijing podium in February, a long-awaited medal around Terdimans neck.

Then, in an instant, it all vanished.

Mazdzer, for just a split second, relaxed. The duo went late into Curve 13, and crashed into Curve 14, and tried to flip their sled to finish this one-run, do-or-die race, but realized, Oh no. S***. What did we do?

And there, laying on ice on a frigid Friday morning last month, the emotions tied to years of effort and countless ounces of energy washed over them.

A few weeks later, one of them, Mazdzer, arrived at the Olympics. Shortly after the crash, he qualified for the singles luge competition, barely. On Saturday night, hell begin his defense of a historic 2018 medal, the first for an American man in this European-dominated event.

But as he prepared to board a Beijing-bound plane last week, he dialed up Terdiman on FaceTime. He thought about his doubles partner, and about his focus of the past quad, as he landed, and again earlier this week.

Really wish that my doubles partner Jayson was here to experience this journey with me, he said.

I wish he was here.

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 18: Chris Mazdzer with Jayson Terdiman of the USA pose for a picture after crossing the finish line of the Men's Doubles race during the FIL Luge World Cup at Olympia-Eiskanal Iglis on December 18, 2021 in Innsbruck, Austria. (Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images)

In the moments after the crash, as devastation sunk in, Mazdzer and Terdiman fell into each others arms. And Mazdzer apologized.

Terdiman refused the apology Theres no sorry here, he said but they both knew what this meant.

While Mazdzer had another shot to qualify for yet another Olympic Games later that weekend, Terdimans career was over.

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It had spanned decades and multiple partners, World Championships and Olympic Games. Throughout it, Terdiman developed tunnel vision. Hed dedicated his life to this niche sport, chiseling his muscles and fine-tuning his sled, which hed bought with his own money. As he entered his 30s, and body maintenance became more burdensome, he gradually realized that this Olympic quad would be his last. He underwent shoulder surgery. For his 33rd birthday, he received a PRP shot in his elbow to combat tendonitis. As he and Mazdzer battled through the 2021-22 season, as the top U.S. doubles duo but not quite as formidable as theyd hoped, he knew it was time for me to move into the next phase of my life.

He assumed it would begin after a wild ride in Beijing, perhaps with a team relay medal in tow. And then, on that Friday morning in Latvia, it blindsided him. The tunnel caved in. His goals disappeared.

Hed thought about his plans for that next phase of life. Hed never even considered that it would confront him here, or how it would feel. After hugs and unvarnished emotion, he retired to a rented apartment. He pondered it. And he decided, mere hours after unfathomable disappointment, that hed begin it by helping the youngsters whod qualified ahead of him prepare for the Olympics.

This is why Mazdzer and other U.S. lugers have brought Terdiman with them to Beijing in spirit. Throughout his career, he developed a reputation in a mostly individual sport as the ultimate teammate. In the days after his final race, with whirling thoughts eating into sleep, he hopped in a sprinter van, and trucked team cargo down through Lithuania and Poland, across Germany. He hopped on a plane in Frankfurt, and flew to Park City, Utah, where he tutored first-time Olympians Zack DiGregorio and Sean Hollander. Hed even offered them his own sled.

Teammates saw this selflessness and told him they were proud. A few, including Mazdzer, pushed for Terdiman to accompany them to China as a coach. Logistics wouldnt allow, so instead, as DiGregorio and Hollander headed halfway across the world, Terdiman headed home.

But he didnt hide. Hes been in touch with Mazdzer and others. Throughout the next week, hell gather with DiGregorios and Hollanders families, and other members of the broader USA Luge family, at a watch party in Lake Placid, New York.

He knows itll be very difficult to watch from afar. Hes felt conflicted ever since the crash. He knows emotions will clash inside of him, and surely, one of them will be sadness. Sadness that hes there, not here. Sadness that it ended like this.

But he was relieved when Mazdzer qualified in singles. Hes invested in the success of DiGregorio and Hollander. Hell cheer rabidly on Saturday and Sunday, and perhaps feel a small twinge of the adrenaline that racing stimulated, and when Mazdzer gets on the handles, and flings himself down the track here in Yanqing?

I'll be proud of him, Terdiman said.

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Two lugers crashed. One's career ended. The other is at the Olympics with guilt - Yahoo Sports

A day after the International Olympic Committee tried to claim these Games should be free of politics, the Chinese Communist Party staged an Opening Ceremony draped in dual-track political messaging for audiences both inside China and out that was as loud and clear as the fireworks that lit up the Beijing sky.

It was a sign of both Chinese strength in its ability to use the Olympics to spread its narrative and its hidden terror at the truth actually seeping out.

It ended with an affront to the sensibilities and a middle finger to much of the world, whose prominent governments including the United States, India, Great Britain, Australia and Canada refused to send diplomats to grant this absurdity any measure of legitimacy.

The Olympic cauldron was lit a symbolic moment of prominence on Friday in Beijing by two Chinese athletes, including Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a cross country skier, who, according to the state-run media, has Uyghur heritage.

That choice, a female Uyghur, was a direct shot at outside groups and governments who have condemned China for its treatment against Muslim ethic minorities who mostly reside in the far northwest part of the country.

Numerous governments, including the United States, and numerous human rights organizations Amnesty International and United Nations experts, among them have concluded China is waging genocide against the Uyghurs after some members of the ethnic group began demanding a measure of cultural independence in 2014.

China has denied the allegation and its response was, perhaps, even more direct than imaginable. In a signature moment of the Olympics, with massive audiences both inside the country and around the globe, it sent a Uyghur woman to essentially declare all is good and what youve heard isnt true.

Well, thats the Chinese story, at least.

BEIJING, CHINA FEBRUARY 4, 2022: Chinese athletes Dinigeer Yilamujiang and Zhao Jiawen light the snowflake-shaped Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the National Stadium (also known as the Bird's Nest). Sergei Bobylev/TASS (Photo by Sergei BobylevTASS via Getty Images)

But if the CCP is going to use Dinigeer Yilamujiang as a prop for its story, then let her also serve as a chance for the rest of the world to learn about her people.

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There is universal consensus among governments, independent groups and international journalists about what is happening in the Xinjiang province. It was reached despite the enormous risks politically, economically or even for security reasons in taking on China.

Slavery.

Forced sterilization.

The imprisonment of perhaps 1 million Uyghurs.

Re-education camps.

The erasing of culture.

Rapes, beatings, mandated abortions, starvations and every other form of torture imaginable.

The evidence is overwhelming, Williams Nee of the Chinese Human Rights Defenders and a former analyst for Amnesty International told Yahoo Sports.

China denies it, but it has also denied the United Nations own high commissioner for human rights access to the area. No matter, there are satellite images of the camps, testimony from Uyghurs who escaped as refugees, and reports from independent groups and journalists who snuck in.

Everything is geared to making the Uyghurs comply with the Chinese central government and Han culture, even if that means ensuring fewer Uyghurs exist, both now and in the future. The racism is appalling. Any objectors can be used to work the cotton fields so the government can profit off their instance on basic human dignity.

The Uyghurs, among others in the region, face systematic, state-organized mass imprisonment, torture and persecution amounting to crimes against humanity, Amnesty International stated in 2021.

It should shock the conscience of humanity that massive numbers of people have been subjected to brainwashing, torture and other degrading treatment in internment camps, while millions more live in fear amid a vast surveillance apparatus, the report stated.

If Chinese president Xi Jinping wants an Olympic torch to say there is nothing to see here, well, let the rest of the world that lives outside of his state-controlled media and internet firewalls take the time to look longer and harder and consider what, in even the smallest of ways, they can do to help.

Let this backfire. Let this draw attention to this state-run terrorism. Let this become a global movement.

Let this grow so loud that it drowns out the IOCs pathetic willingness to be used as a propaganda prop this month an effort complete with a pathetic, humiliating, all but written-by-Beijing-speech from IOC President Thomas Bach, for whom history will forever condemn.

They wanted the IOC to send the message that this wasnt about politics and then make it all about politics, Nee said. They want to show to their own people and the world, especially the Muslim world, an image of ethic unity. But you cant say everything is fine and not let the United Nations, or anyone else, in to investigate.

Let it extend to other global businesses, organizations and prominent people. Let this be the tipping point.

This is why the United States and others engaged in a diplomatic boycott of these Games. No U.S. government officials were there to witness, and thus lend credence to, this mass brainwashing.

The athletes, who want to be there, will be able to compete. Its an individual choice, not a government mandate.

The fact Dinigeer Yilamujiang lit the cauldron, however, shows that China was stung by the boycott and was angry about the lack of American, British and other dignitaries in Beijing on Friday.

It also showed it is concerned about the narrative, its fear about the truth leaking out. A hit dog will bark and China was howling on Friday.

It needed, in the biggest way possible, to try to message its own people and those around the world that if they happen to have heard about any trouble with the Uyghurs if they heard about the rapes and the imprisonments and the torture and the slavery, if the growing noise about these atrocities had reached them well, it isnt true.

Just look at the happy, healthy, smiling face of Dinigeer Yilamujiang as she fired up that cauldron.

Well, the cauldron is lit. Now let the rest of the world follow its glow toward the truth.

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The 2022 Olympics Opening Ceremony revealed this truth: China has a lot to hide - Yahoo Sports

Nathan Chen wasnt even done with his final spins and he was already pumping his fist Friday morning in Beijing.

Due to COVID protocols the arena was almost completely empty, the atmosphere mostly dead, but Chen had just turned in a near-flawless short program and even without the roar of the crowd, he was going to celebrate.

Just feels good, Chen said. Im happy.

Chen delivered a 111.71, his highest score of the season, to take first in the mens short program section of the team event. It staked the United States to first overall and set a tone for the night.

The American ice dance rhythm team of Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue followed with a first of their own courtesy of a personal-best 86.56. Then Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier finished third in pairs with a personal-best of 75.00.

It was enough to put the Americans in first place after day one of the competition, just ahead of the Russia and China. It resumes Saturday and Sunday.

We can walk away with a medal for sure, Chen said. What color is hard to say.

Chen said he isnt sure if he would take the ice for the US in Sundays team free skate or yield to teammate Vincent Zhou. The mens individual starts Tuesday, but he said he wouldnt be tired either way.

Make no mistake though, as nice as a team medal would be, Chen is here for individual gold. The team competition was created in 2014 and remains a bit of an after-thought gimmick for the skaters.

Its why the most notable thing for Chen on Friday was making it clear he is the skater to beat in the individual competition. Gone was any hope that the three-time World Champion from Salt Lake City might not be up for the pressure of the Olympics. He passed his free time by casually throwing a football around and then went out skated strong and confident.

Feels good to have a short program [in which] I actually skated well at the Olympics, Chen said.

Four year ago, in South Korea, Chen finished fourth in this same event mens short program in the team skate. The U.S. went on to secure a bronze medal, but Chens uneven performance portended trouble ahead.

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In the mens individual competition, he finished 17th in the short program. It was a disastrous run that ended any hope of the then-18-year-old of shocking the world. He would perform masterfully two nights later in the mens free skate, recording an Olympic record 215.08. It was too late though. He finished 12th and vowed to be back and be better.

Well, hes here. Now 22, a Yale University student and dubbed the Quad King for his ability to leap, spin four times in the air and land smoothly with almost impossible ease. As recently as 2010, you could win an Olympic gold without being able to land a quad. Chen now can stick five in a single program.

Chen has won the last three World championships held (2018, 2019, 2021) and should add an Olympic gold to his collection. Should is a dangerous word in figure skating though. A whole bunch of shoulds have shown up at the Games and gone home empty.

He knows from experience. So while he brushed off suggestions that he exorcised a demon from past mistakes, it wasn't as if this didnt mean something.

You learn the most from your mistakes, Chen said. And I certainly learned a lot from that [Olympic] competition. I certainly wouldn't be here without going through that. I think rather than it being a demon, it was a very helpful learning experience.

These are the Olympics, but these also arent the Olympics. There were almost no fans in attendance (just approximately 800). There was little cheering or clapping. The music rattled off the arena walls with poor acoustics. It was more like a bright-light training session than anything else. Bring your own energy.

No matter.

Chen said hes spent as much time as possible isolated from others in an effort to avoid a positive COVID test that could end his Olympics.

The only thing is COVID, Chen said. That's the main thing on the back of our mind. We can train as hard as we can, but if a test comes out, a test comes out.

He said he wears a mask everywhere, even on the ice in practice sessions. His interactions are almost solely with teammates. He isnt going to walk in the Opening Ceremony as he did in South Korea, mostly because he doesnt want to risk a close contact.

If that is the sacrifice he needs to make, then hell make it. He knows the stakes.

As soon as you touch down, you see the rings in front of you, you go, Oh my God, I'm here, Chen said. Thats already special enough. Then you see them everywhere you skate and you see these really decked out team members in their gear.

He waited four years to get back under those rings, to get another shot at the short program, to prove himself on the biggest stage in his sport. Hes the best in the world. He knows it. Everyone knows it.

Now he just has to prove it. Step one came Friday in the team event. Nathan Chen is here, and hes going to be a problem for everyone else.

U.S. figure skater Nathan Chen reacts after the men's short program team event at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on February 04, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Elsa/Getty Images)

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Nathan Chen sent a message with a nearly flawless first skate of the 2022 Olympics - Yahoo Sports

Upon arrival in Beijing, Olympic athletes are being greeted with hazmat suits and malware. They can bring burner phones to guard against the Chinese stealing from them, but the over-the-top, performance-art COVID-19 protocols are unavoidable. Theres an isolation center waiting for any defiance.

Is there someone phishing via my IG account? Are these COVID tests legit?

Its not the traditional Olympic Spirit. But it is the spirit of Beijing 2022.

Why are they doing this in a country with an absurd, so-called Zero COVID plan that defies science and logic because its about neither science nor logic?

I doubt that we will see fair play in the competitions in China, Michael Hoelz, the president of the German snowboarding federation, said last month. It is relatively easy with the [COVID-19] testing. Someone can later say, Were sorry, it was a false positive.

Give Hoelz credit for saying out loud what everyone else is discussing privately.

Is it fair to be presumptively suspicious of state-sponsored cheating? It is when dealing with the modern Olympics.

The last time the IOC succumbed to corruption and cowardice, and placed the Games in one of these totalitarian-type countries, the Russians built a structure in Sochi next to the doping lab and spent each night passing dirty samples out and clean samples in through a hole in the wall.

Two predictable things happened.

1. Russia won the most medals.

2. No Russian tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

When they were done, the Russians went on to cheat the Paralympics for good measure.

That, of course, got the IOC to ban Russia from future Olympics, but thats true only if you believe having hundreds of Russian athletes competing for the Russian Olympic Committee and not Russia is a distinction with a difference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be at Fridays Opening Ceremony in Beijing to cheer on his delegation and beam images of defiance against, and victory over, IOC sanctions back to Moscow. In 2014, he used the Sochi Olympics Games to rally national pride. Then he invaded Ukraine. He appears poised to do it again this time.

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Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), gives gifts to staff members of a restaurant as he visits a restaurant in Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games village, ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. (Wang Zhao - Pool/Getty Images)

These are the Olympics of Jacque Rogge and Thomas Bach, IOC presidents past and present. This is what theyve wrought, this is what they've bought, this is what theyve turned this into.

They allowed the Games to get so expensive, the bid process so rigged, the concept of the Olympics so toxic and distant from its once high-minded ideal that theyve done the near impossible: they created an Olympics that Olympians dont want to be at.

Oh, the athletes would like to compete, but only in a place that will treat them with respect and fairness, not sift through their emails or put them in an isolation center whether they are contagious or not.

What the hell is this, Beijing 2022, a Winter Games where smog but not snowflakes fill the sky virtually all the snow is man-made, the aquifers be damned and drained?

Its what happens when the Olympics become so pernicious that perfectly legitimate places such as Oslo, Norway, and St. Moritz, Switzerland, scrap their bids so they wont lose to bribes and kickbacks. That left only two cities willing to get into business with the IOC in 2022: Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, a fellow dictatorship that proudly billed itself as the worlds largest landlocked country.

So now you get this, COVID not as a burden for the Chinese but an opportunity to oppress foreigners and propagandize to its suffering people. Its a chance to reinforce that the government shall be obeyed at all costs so it can continue to protect. Locking figure skaters behind walls and fences makes locking down cities seem sensible. Have everyone succumb to ridiculous gestures such as spraying sanitizer on the streets and it all becomes a show.

Just like in Sochi, this has nothing to do with sports and everything to do with government power and favored contractor graft.

Bach, who clinked Champagne glasses with Putin back in 2014, will just serve as a smiling Western puppet of legitimacy since the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and others engaged in a diplomatic boycott and wont participate in the photo op.

Its crystal clear that the Chinese government is going to use these Olympic Games to show its own population that it has won the international communitys respect and recognition, said William Nee of the Chinese Human Rights Defenders. But, of course, this is problematic because the Chinese government is carrying out crimes against humanity.

The IOC should never have awarded the Olympic Games, and the glory that goes with it, to a country whose human rights problems are getting progressively more severe every year.

In the far northwest of China there are accusations of slave labor and genocide. In the southeast, a national security invasion of Hong Kong. And then there is the jailing and torture of dissidents, critics and journalists everywhere else.

The athletes are uncertain whether speaking out about such things will help, hurt or just land them a positive COVID test on the eve of competition.

Bach and his cronies? They are fine with it. They are always fine with it. Theres a five-star hotel suite to sleep in. Blind eyes come cheap at the IOC.

For the athletes, its another story. They speak of the fear of the tests, the isolation of isolation or the uncertainty of being in a place where fake is real and real is fake.

They just want to ski or skate or slide, not serve as tools for oppression and violence. They just want to challenge themselves against the best of the world, not wind up as pawns that strengthen the grips of government.

They just want to enjoy the moment they worked their lives for, not have to guard against the host nation draining their bank account.

They just wanted the Olympics.

Instead the Olympics gave them this.

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Beijing 2022: Blind eyes come cheap at the IOC - Yahoo Sports