Daily Archives: February 9, 2022

Warning: The following article contains graphic allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office will not criminally charge Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer after investigating allegations of sexual assault against him, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.

The district attorney decided there is insufficient evidence in the case to "prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that Bauer committed a crime, the Times reported. The investigation by the Pasadena police department has been open for five months.

A San Diego woman said Bauer had two sexual encounters with her that turned violent at his home in Pasadena last year. Bauer has been on paid administrative leave since the allegations in late June.

Trevor Bauer will reportedly not be charged by the LA district attorney's office. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

MLB put Bauer on paid administrative leave on July 2, and with the agreement of the MLB Players Association, the leave continued to be extended through the end of the 2021 season. The last time he pitched for the Dodgers was on June 28.

The league and commissioner Rob Manfred can still opt to suspend him, as they have for other players who have not faced criminal charges.

"MLB's investigation is ongoing, and we will comment further at the appropriate time," MLB said in a statement.

The next step is for Bauer to meet with MLB investigators, who will inform him of their findings and have him respond, per the Times.

A potential suspension falls under what's allowed by the league's domestic violence and sexual assault policy. In 2019, for instance, Dodgers pitcher Julio Uras was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery and ultimately not criminally charged. Manfred issued a 20-game suspension.

The longest an MLB player has been suspended under the policy without being charged is a full season. Manfred issued that discipline against reliever Sam Dyson in March of 2021. MLB has suspended 14 players over the six years the policy has been active and it has ranged from 15 games to 162, per the Times.

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The allegations of assault came out in June by the woman in San Diego. The following day, in filing for a temporary ex parte restraining order against Bauer, she made disturbing allegations that included graphic images of her injuries after the encounters.

The two reportedly met through Instagram and agreed to meet. She said the sex was initially consensual, but turned violent. Among other allegations, she said Bauer choked her until she was unconscious and performed anal sex on her during that time. She said in filing for the restraining order that she told Bauer the next morning she didn't enjoy it, and said he seemed to understand that. They agreed to meet again a month later, and she said it was again violent. She said he punched her in the head.

Her petition for a permanent restraining order was denied after a four-day court hearing in August, with the judge citing the unlikelihood that Bauer would "cause [the accuser] any harm or even have contact" with her.

The Pasadena Police Department opened an investigation. Reports also emerged that an Ohio woman sought a protective order against Bauer when he pitched for Cleveland in 2017. Bauer's representatives have called the second allegation "categorically false," and said the meeting with the San Diego woman was consensual.

The 2022 season is the second in a three-year, $102 million deal with the Dodgers. The team has refrained from commenting about the allegations and again deferred to MLB's investigation on Tuesday.

Excerpt from:

Report: Dodgers' Trevor Bauer will not be criminally charged after sexual assault allegations - Yahoo Sports

Nathan Chen entered the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics a favorite for gold.

A disastrous short program that included a fall on a quadruple lutz left the U.S. figure skater in 17th place and out of the running before the free skate even started. His near-perfect free skate didn't matter for the medal count as he rallied for a fifth-place finish.

On Tuesday, Chen was back on Olympic ice for a short program, again a favorite for gold in Beijing. The result this time was dramatically different. The 22-year-old who helped lead the United States to team silver dazzled with a historic short program that tallied not just a personal best 113.97, but the highest score ever recorded in international competition.

Nathan Chen gave a historic effort in Tuesday's short program (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)

Chen was flawless in executing a routine that was technically the most difficult short program ever performed. When he landed a quad-lutz, triple-toe loop combination more than halfway through the program, he was well on his way to the top spot heading into Thursday's free skate (Wednesday night for American viewers).

He'll enter the free skate ahead of Japans Yuma Kagiyama, who scored a 108.12 in the short program.

While Chen made history, teammate Vincent Zhou was left to watch Tuesday's short program in isolation after he tested positive for COVID-19. The U.S. figure skater learned of his positive test after competing in the team competition and was isolated via the Beijing Games' protocols. He said via Instagram from a hotel room on Tuesday that he was an "emotional wreck."

Vincent Zhou found heartbreak ahead of the short program. (Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Zhou, 21, will take home silver for his efforts in the team competition. But after years of preparation, his dreams of competing for an individual Olympic medal met a sudden, excruciating end.

Another U.S. athlete revealed her own bad health news following a scary scene on the slopes on Monday. Alpine skier Nina O'Brien crashed through the finish line of Monday's giant slalom and lay motionless for several minutes as medics tended to her. She left the mountain on a stretcher with little news on her condition available beyond a note from the U.S. ski team that she was "alert and responsive."

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On Tuesday, she revealed on Instagram that she suffered a compound fracture of her left tibia. She wrote that she was "heartbroken" but posted an image of herself in her hospital bed with a smile on her face.

If Tuesday was a gold-medal game preview, then go ahead and crown the Canadians.

Canada's women's hockey team rode a three-goal second period to a 4-2 win over the United States to close out pool play and earn the No. 1 seed for the elimination round. Goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens came up big while saving 51 American shots to ensure a perfect 4-0 record heading into the tournament.

The United States finished 3-1 in pool play and is widely expected to advance alongside Canada into a gold-medal game rematch on Feb. 17. If that's the case, Canada likely can't afford to allow 53 shots on goal for a second-straight matchup.

Continue reading here:

What you missed at the Olympics: Nathan Chen crushes, heartbreak for Vincent Zhou - Yahoo Sports

DETROIT The Boston Celtics arent one of the myriad teams feeling they are one move away from vaulting to the top of the Eastern Conference, but they could be in much better shape than previously thought.

In the past few weeks, the Celtics seem to have found an identity one that could very well quell the thirst to trade either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, but it doesnt involve either specifically.

Through Monday, the Celtics are in the play-in spot, barely behind the soapy Brooklyn Nets at seventh, but the two are moving in vastly different directions. The Celtics have won seven of eight while the Nets have lost eight straight. With the trade deadline approaching, recent events could play a big part in the immediate future.

During this streak, the Celtics turned into a defensive unit, holding their opponents to 38% shooting and 29% from three. Even if they havent exactly gone against offensive juggernauts, the Celtics are whipping opponents by an average of 20 points a night.

Its Robert Williams and Marcus Smart putting their stamp on the team, along with Al Horford being more useful in this stop. Williams gets out on switches and is quick enough to protect the rim, aiding Smart in his pesky ways.

We both know our job on the court, and we both look to each other for the energy, for that drive, that will, Williams said Friday night, after the Celtics took a big lead and held on to beat the Pistons 102-93.

Sometimes we just look at each other in the game and just say, Hey, we got to step it up, then everybody else follows defensively setting the tone.

Boston is fourth in defensive rating only Cleveland, Phoenix and Golden State are better usually a hallmark of a good team, headlined by its best players.

Should the Celtics trade either Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum or is the core already set up for success? (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Its a bit different for the Celtics. Not to say Tatum and Brown arent defensively engaged, but theyre not being counted on to be something theyre not quite built for yet: vocal leaders.

The urge is almost too irresistible, to split up the still-youngish duo before they get grownish. Its not an excuse to say Brown is 25, Tatum 23, and believe theres still so much room for growth, even though weve seen plenty.

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But not this incarnation of this team. Even when they fell to 18-21 after a loss to the New York Knicks on Jan. 6, there wasnt real panic from the plan: long, rangy defenders forcing turnovers and clearing the way for two outstanding scorers.

We never had a real look at it. Injury, COVID situations. Now, everyones back healthy for an extended amount of time now, Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. It's kind of what I envisioned defensively with our size and versatility. And even what guys were there for the short amount of time we had success with it was just so much lack of continuity.

The standard for the Celtics is high, and its hard to envision Tatum or Brown being the best player on a team that gets past Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant in the East.

Perhaps theyve had their window, fleeting as it was, and squandered it. They came close against the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, but were too young to seize the moment. It happens, and plenty of teams fall victim to dynastic players coming into their own. You cant say Tatum or Brown have underdeveloped, or underachieved.

You wonder about Tatums shot selection at times, those instances where he gums up the offense to get into his bag and forces the offense when theres no need to. And having two perimeter-oriented scorers who arent foul-drawers is still tougher, albeit not impossible, to build around.

Udoka is walking a fine line, wanting Tatum and Brown to trust each other and their teammates, while also limiting the mind-numbing isolations in the half-court but having it available in doses.

One thing we stress is, having our defense turn into offense, getting stops and turnovers, Udoka said. Its much more beneficial than having isolations, not having to rely on isolations so heavy.

Arguably, theyve each exceeded individual projections to this point, even if it hasnt led to the ultimate team success. Perhaps the Celtics have a blueprint for developing in the immediate future with both, putting rugged defenders around the scorers and winning unconventionally.

But even with the trade deadline days away, it doesnt mean the Celtics should pull the plug on the two. At least not yet.

Cleveland fired the first salvo, acquiring Caris LeVert from a soon-to-be-rebuilding Indiana Pacers team. There are no expectations to make the Finals, but the Cavaliers are positioning themselves to be flexible and filling holes for the future while still giving an honest effort at making some noise this spring.

It wouldnt be surprising to see other teams follow suit in a bunched-up East, as Ben Simmons continues to sit in mothballs and the Nets trip over their own feet waiting for Kevin Durant to come back and save them.

The quality of the conference is far better than its been in decades, but with no one running and hiding, theres opportunity for shrewd moves to take a flier on the rest of the season and sneakily get a jumpstart on the offseason.

Experienced league executives scoffed at the notion of trading one just to get fresh faces in, noting whatever the Celtics get in return wouldnt be a better player or even a better fit.

If its a problem, trading one doesnt solve the problem, one executive told Yahoo Sports.

Executives have called coach turned decision-maker Brad Stevens fair in trade discussions, compared to Danny Ainges approach of trying to get your best player for literally nothing. That has streamlined conversations, leading many to believe Stevens wants to subtly add to the core as opposed to tearing it down.

You hear Smarts name brought up frequently, but hes remained a Celtic this entire time. Horford has another year after this one left on the massive deal he signed to leave Boston a couple years ago, so it could be attractive.

The Celtics were very well in no-mans-land, not good enough or bad enough to turn their fortunes but sitting still, for once, could lead to the best revelation of all.

Continue reading here:

Why the Celtics should be content standing pat on Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum - Yahoo Sports

In the beginning of the NBA season, it appeared to be a two-man race between Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes for the rookie top honor, but now a few other players have entered the conversation. Cade Cunningham, Franz Wagner and Josh Giddey all had strong starts to the second half of the season, and the gap between the top five rookies is smaller than ever.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs returned to the court Jan. 14 after being sidelined for five weeks with a thumb injury. Two second-round picks also remain in the top 10.

Heres a look at Yahoo Sports updated NBA rookie power rankings.

Previous rank: No. 2

2021-22 stats: 15 ppg, 8.2 rpg

Mobley has led a revival in Cleveland alongside Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt and floor general Darius Garland. The 7-footer out of USC is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA and is leading all rookies by a mile with 74 blocks so far this season (Herb Jones comes in at No. 2 with 44). Mobley is a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate and is proving to be the leader for the next generation of NBA centers.

"I watch a lot of Evan Mobley, especially this season," Dereck Lively, a 7-foot-2 center and No. 1-ranked high school player told Yahoo Sports. "He's had so much early success in his rookie year and is changing the way 7-footers play at the highest level."

Mobley appears stronger in the post than what his slight frame suggests, and he has incredible footwork around the baseline. Mobley's best offensive performance was against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 2 when he posted a season-high 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds (his 11th double-double this season). He was named a Rising Star for All-Star Weekend and was selected second overall behind Anthony Edwards in the Rising Stars draft. Veteran guard Rajon Rondo recently called Mobley possibly the most talented rookie Ive ever played with.

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Previous rank: No. 5

2021-22 stats: 15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.2 apg

Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, has gradually adapted to the NBA game better than any rookie this season. After a slow start, Cunningham found his rhythm and is becoming the go-to player during crunch time.

Some guys have it, and he has it when it comes to big moments," head coach Dwane Casey said after a win over the Cavaliers on Jan. 30. "Does he still have a lot to learn fundamentally about the NBA? Yes, but once he does get that down, hell still have it. "

Cunningham recorded his first triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in the win over the Cavs and finished at a plus-nine in 37 minutes. Cunningham was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January and was also selected as a Rising Star.

Previous rank: No. 3

2021-22 stats: 12 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.1 apg

On Jan. 2, Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double (17 points, 13 rebounds, 14 assists), and three weeks later, he added another accolade. Giddey became the youngest player since LeBron James to reach 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists in his first 45 games. The Australian native is leading all rookies in assists with 289 and was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the third consecutive month. Giddey might not be the favored rookie in the Rookie of the Year race, but he's certainly doing enough to be in consideration.

Previous rank: No. 1

2021-22 stats: 15.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.9 apg

Wagner has played in every game this season and kept his mistakes to a minimum. The 6-foot-10 wing leads all rookies in total minutes (1,738), points (855), field goals (326) and free throws made (136). He is also top five in assists, steals and rebounds. Wagner's usage rate has dropped a tad after Suggs returned, but he remains one of the most efficient players with this up-and-coming Magic team.

Previous rank: No. 4

2021-22 stats: 14.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.4 apg

The Raptors won their last five games, and Barnes has been a consistent factor in Toronto's success. Barnes leads all rookies in offensive rebounds with 114 and has created countless second opportunities for the Raptors on offense. Barnes, along with Mobley, is still considered the favorite to win Rookie of the Year (+650 betting odds behind Mobley at -300 at BetMGM), but the other four players ahead of him have had stronger performances this past month. Barnes continues to reinvent the term point-forward even though his outside shooting has cooled recently. His long-term ceiling remains high with his elite basketball IQ and natural feel for the game.

Scottie Barnes continues to be a big part of the Toronto Raptors' success and is one of the favorites for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Previous rank: No. 7

2021-22 stats: 9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2 apg

Jones was the No. 35 pick in the draft and has continued to make a defensive impact for the Pelicans in the second half of the season. The 6-foot-7 wing leads all rookies in steals with 73 and is second in blocked shots behind Mobley, an impressive stat considering his size compared to Mobley's 7-foot-4 wingspan. Jones was named a Rising Star and joins Ayo Dosunmu as the only two second-round picks selected for the All-Star honor.

Previous rank: No. 8

2021-22 stats: 13.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 apg

Duarte is one of the oldest rookies in this draft class, but is showing how age and experience are sometimes the best options when looking for a player who can impact the game and contribute immediately. Duarte is second in 3-point field goals made with 79 and is shooting 43% from the field. Duarte seems to be the only constant in the Pacers' chaotic season and has provided a little bit of hope for the struggling franchise.

Previous rank: N/A

2021-22 stats: 12.4 ppg, 4.2 apg

Suggs returned to the court after being sidelined for five weeks with a broken thumb. In his first game back, he looked refreshed and scored 12 points with seven dimes in just 22 minutes. Since his return, he's scored in double figures in nine out of the last 12 games.

Previous rank: N/A

2021-22 stats: 7.9 ppg, 2.7 apg

What a year for Dosunmu. The Chicago native landed in the perfect spot after the Bulls selected him No. 38. Dosunmu is one of the best playmakers in this rookie class and is averaging an incredible eight assists in the last nine games. He recorded his second double-double in a recent win over the Pacers where he posted 15 points and dished out 14 assists. Dosunmu was named a Rising Star and is completely outplaying his draft stock this season.

Previous rank: No. 6

2021-22 stats: 14.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg

The Rockets are the worst team in the Western Conference and are clearly in rebuild mode with their young roster. Green hasn't been the most consistent rookie, but there have been glimpses of versatility on offense and the elite change of speed he showcases in the open court.

Green reportedly will be in the NBA dunk contest this season, and fans are in for a treat. He has been winning dunk contests since he was in 10th grade and is one of the most exciting players to watch in transition. Green and Cole Anthony are about to bring a lot of young bounce to the contest.

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

Omer Yurtseven, Miami Heat

Originally posted here:

NBA rookie rankings: The race for Rookie of the Year heats up - Yahoo Sports

The beauty of betting on the Super Bowl is that you can bet on almost anything. The prop market at BetMGM is expansive and there's no shortage of options to increase your excitement level for the big game. With the sheer volume of options available, there are edges to be found if you look hard enough. We've found a prop that has hit in 18 of the last 20 Super Bowls and has the backing of a former NFL punter. The best part? It has plus-money odds.

Kickoff returns can be some of the most exciting plays in football. Unfortunately, we don't get that many of them anymore. Kickers are booting the ball into the end zone at a very high rate. During this past regular season, over 58% of all kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.

Currently, you can bet on whether the opening kickoff will be returned or whether it will be a touchback. Touchback is a -145 favorite. Matt Gay, kicker of the Rams, produced touchbacks at a 63.7% rate this season. Evan McPherson of the Bengals kicked it through the end zone at a 60.4% rate. Both kickers are above average on producing touchbacks. You might think that betting on a touchback is pretty safe.

Are we potentially fading Evan McPherson in the Super Bowl prop market? (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Not so fast. The Super Bowl is a different animal. Over the last 20 years, only two opening kickoffs have produced a touchback. Eighteen of the last 20 opening kickoffs have been returned. Currently at BetMGM, you can get +115 odds on the opening kickoff to produce a return.

If you're going to discuss the art of kicking a football, there are few better sources than a former NFL punter. Pat McAfee punted and kicked at West Virginia in college. Once he got to the NFL, he spent eight seasons as an NFL punter and kick-off specialist with Indianapolis. He participated in the Super Bowl in his rookie season with the Colts.

Prior to last year's Super Bowl, McAfee discussed the opening kickoff on his very popular Pat McAfee Show.

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There isnt normally a touchback on the opening kickoff because the ball is a brand new ball, its basically just plastic. Most balls that you kick have been rubbed down for 30 minutes by your equipment manager and the other teams equipment manager in the presence of an NFL official and its beat up a little bit ... the Super Bowl kickoff ball, that ball goes immediately to the Hall of Fame right after the kick, so it is not beat to hell and back for 30 minutes by an equipment manager. Its very difficult to kick a touchback," McAfee said.

Listen, when a lawyer tells you something about the law, you just accept it as fact. When a professional chef gives you cooking advice, you listen. When a former NFL kicker discusses the intricacies of kicking a football, you have to accept it as 100% fact.

McAfee did go on to express skepticism prior to last year's Super Bowl by reminding his audience that Harrison Butker has a crazy strong leg and he might be someone that could kick a touchback even with a ball not in optimal kicking condition. The Chiefs won the toss and deferred last year, meaning Butker had the opening kickoff. The kick was returned, and there was no touchback for the 18th time in 20 years.

No touchback currently pays out at +115 on BetMGM. Anytime you can get a bet that hits at a 90% clip at plus-money, you'd be crazy not to take it. McAfee made a lot of money kicking footballs for a living, and he gave us a good explanation as to why it's so hard to kick the opening kickoff. Let's not ask questions and hope this trend continues again on Sunday.

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NFL betting: This plus-money prop has hit in 18 of last 20 Super Bowls - Yahoo Sports

Lets play a little game of hypothetical, shall we?

Lets say you accuse a very powerful politician of serious wrongdoing, in this case, rape. Lets say you do it on social media, but a half hour after you post the allegation, it is taken down.

And lets say, for the purposes here, that you are a prominent athlete. Lets say a professional tennis player who has been ranked No. 1 in the world as a doubles player. Just like, you know, Peng Shuai of China.

And lets say that after the post, you disappear from the public eye for three weeks, which scares your friends and colleagues and the world of professional tennis.

And lets say, you only reemerge in videos and pictures released by the state media in China, a nation with a long history, and even present, of using torture, murder, rape, imprisonment and so on to force compliance and corruption.

And lets say that the Winter Olympics are being staged in China. And lets say that China has found that the International Olympic Committee is willing to repeat its propaganda on nearly every subject, including the genocide of ethic minorities. As such, claiming you are fine and safe and free is light work for them. So IOC president Thomas Bach jumps to the task.

Former professional tennis player Peng Shuai met with a member of the International Olympic Committee in Beijing, but it did little to clarify her situation with the Chinese government. (Fred Lee/Getty Images)

And lets say, that in order to further assure people that you didn't accuse a vice premier of rape and then disappear for three weeks, you are told to sit for an interview with a French sports publication.

Now, this isnt going to be just any interview, of course. Lets say the questions must be submitted ahead of time. And lets say a member of the Chinese Olympic Committee (or state-security, because who really knows) must sit in on the interview, even though you are a 35-year-old international tennis star who is more than capable of handling the interview yourself.

And lets say you knew that you couldnt speak the truth about everything that happened because doing so would put you and your friends and family in great danger.

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But lets say you wanted to get your message out anyway. Lets say you wanted to sound like someone who is not free and fine even as you say you are free and fine. Lets say you wanted to make it clear that you stand by the rape allegation but while sounding like you arent standing by the rape allegation. Let's say you are trying to call for help without calling for help.

You know what you would do?

You would sound exactly like Peng Shuai sounded in her comments to LEquipe, a French newspaper. And then you would hope someone was reading carefully.

Youd say things such as: Sexual assault? I never said that anyone made me submit to a sexual assault.

Except in that initial post, which ran 1,600 words long, you stated former vice premier Zhang Gaoli took me to your home to force me to have sex with you I couldnt describe how disgusted I was, and how many times I asked myself, am i still a human? I feel like a walking corpse.

Lets say you were asked about that? Youd describe it as an enormous misunderstanding and ask that it would no longer be skewed.

As for your disappearance: I never disappeared. As for people thinking you needed help: Why would I need psychological assistance? As for deleting the post: I wanted to.

In fact, you would try to say people shouldnt mix feelings, sport and politics. And youd wonder why the concern? And youd explain the reason you didnt return so many messages, even from the likes of Serena Williams, was due to computer issues and a lack of time.

You would say things that dont sound believable in the hope that someone out there wouldnt believe them.

That person will not work at the IOC, of course. That organization put out a press release that could have been written by the Chinese Communist Party. Then, IOC spokesman Mark Adams doubled down on the absurdity by stating that no one should even question if Peng is OK.

I don't think it is on us to judge, in one way, just as it is not for you to judge either, in one way or the other, Adams said.

Look, there may be nothing the IOC can do for Peng Shuai right now. Even evacuating her from the country might put her family in jeopardy. But that doesnt mean the IOC has to be so willing and excited to serve as China's useful idiot or, perhaps even worse, scold anyone who, unlike them, hasnt torched all credibility to bend at the knee of the CCP.

Mark Adams may have to ask his Chinese minders whether he can judge things for himself. The rest of us are allowed all on our own though.

Youve seen the words in the interview she gave to LEquipe, Adams said. I think we also need to listen to her and we need to read what she is saying.

We did. This woman is in trouble. Peng Shuai is in trouble. A lot of trouble. She told us herself. Clear as day.

We know Thomas Bach and Mark Adams and the IOC dont care. We can only hope someone out there does.

Excerpt from:

2022 Olympics: Peng Shuai is in trouble, no matter what the IOC or Chinese government says - Yahoo Sports

Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor, during the first media availability of Super Bowl week Monday, was asked how he was doing.

"Ive never been better," Taylor said, with some extra emphasis.

That rings true. Of all the people in Super Bowl LVI, Taylor is the one that might have needed this season the most. He was 6-25-1 after two seasons. He knows he didn't have much time left to turn things around.

"Personally, if I coached at any other organization in football, I probably wouldn't be here right now in the third year. That's the truth," Taylor said last month.

The NFL has become increasingly impatient with coaches. There are nine NFL teams that will go into next season with a new coach, close to one-third of the league. It used to be rare for teams to fire coaches after just two seasons; now it's fairly common. The Bengals have been criticized for being too patient at times, but they're in a Super Bowl with a coach that plenty of other franchises would have dumped.

Taylor had confidence even when there was no good reason for it, and the Bengals had confidence in him. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned from that.

"We expected to be here," Taylor said on Monday. "Weve known what team we have had all along. We have never surprised ourselves, I can tell you that."

Before the AFC championship game, Taylor told a story about his first Bengals season and preparing to face, of all teams, the Los Angeles Rams in London. The Bengals were 0-7. Taylor said it was 1 a.m. on Tuesday. He and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan didn't have a single play on their game plan card. Usually that play card was done. The Bengals' coaches, with an undermanned roster that would eventually go 2-14, couldn't figure out how to scheme a single thing to beat the Rams and their great defensive star Aaron Donald.

Taylor said he wrote the time and date on his whiteboard, along with two words.

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"I wrote up on my board, Remember when," Taylor said. "And theres going to be a day where we reflect back on this moment, when were struggling to get a yard on a game plan call sheet, and were going to say, Remember when we couldnt even figure out a way to get a yard on the L.A. Rams? Trust me, I look at that every day."

The Bengals lost that game to the Rams 24-10. It would be nice to say things turned around shortly after, but there were a lot of losses to come. The Bengals went 4-11-1 last season. They weren't expected to do much this season either.

But Taylor stayed confident. Bengals legend Ken Anderson, the team's all-time leader in passing yards, was at a practice in London before that Rams game in 2019. He didn't see a team that was unsure of itself or going through the motions at 0-7. He said the practice he attended was one of the sharpest and most spirited he had seen. That's when Anderson bought in to the young coach, even when Taylor didn't have a single win.

"That's when I said, 'These guys are listening to him,'" Anderson said.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor hoists the Lamar Hunt trophy after winning the AFC championship. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)

Taylor broke a dubious record by reaching Super Bowl LVI. He has the lowest winning percentage, at the time of kickoff, for any coach in Super Bowl history.

The positive way to look at it is Taylor persevered through two awful seasons and turned it around quickly. The other positive is the two coaches right behind Taylor on that list of worst winning percentages in Super Bowl history are Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick. Those two became legends after their first Super Bowl trip.

Taylor will face Rams coach Sean McVay, which makes the game even more special for him. Taylor was hired by the Bengals off McVay's Rams staff. Plenty of times when the Bengals were losing game after game it was mentioned that Taylor's only qualification to be a head coach seemed to be his connection to McVay. Taylor doesn't hide from that, saying he learned plenty about running a team when he was on McVay's staff.

"The joke is always if you had a cup of coffee with Sean McVay then youre going to be a head coach in the NFL. Theres a ton of truth to that," Taylor said Monday. "If you spend time around the guy, he gives you a ton of confidence in yourself. Hes shown a lot of us young guys you can do it your own way, it doesnt have to be the way it has always been done for the last 20 years around the league. There can be a different way of doing things."

Taylor is still just 38 years old. He has gone from the hot seat to a likely extension with the Bengals. If Cincinnati wins Sunday, he'll be a legend there forever.

During the lowest points of those first two seasons he never wavered. The Bengals were rewarded for standing by their coach when plenty of teams would have moved on.

"I believed every step of the way here we were going to get to this point," Taylor said.

Read more here:

Bengals stuck by Zac Taylor when he was 6-25-1, now they're in the Super Bowl - Yahoo Sports