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Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and his political team are devoting significant resources to gaining Republican control of the General Assembly this fall, hoping to enact a conservative agenda that would include passing new abortion legislation, according to several sources familiar with the governors plans.

Virginia is the last state in the South without significant restrictions on abortion rights, and advocates see it as the next big battleground on the issue.

Passing a ban on abortion after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and saving the life of the mother, would be a legislative priority for Youngkin if his party succeeds in the November legislative elections, the sources familiar with his plans said. The governor and his campaign team believe that 15 weeks is a consensus limit one that many Virginians across political ideologies can agree upon. And theyre betting the measure is modest enough to avoid spikes in Democratic turnout more stringent bans have triggered in other states.

Their view is informed by the all-women focus groups they conducted on abortion throughout the summer as part of GOP efforts to hold the Virginia House and win the Senate, NBC News has learned. Zack Roday, the coordinated campaigns director, for Youngkin's state PAC Spirit of Virginia, said the women's views on abortion were "complicated" and "nuanced." But, he said, "15 weeks with exceptions, is a place where a lot of people start nodding their head."

Youngkin is eyeing new abortion limitations as elected Democrats in the commonwealth sound the alarm that the national party isn't doing enough to prevent the Republican governor and his allies from winning the state Senate or from keeping their hold on the House of Delegates.

Some Republicans in the state dont view abortion, and especially a 15-week ban, as an issue that will drive voters to the polls or give Democrats an edge as it has in other recent elections.

In a Spirit of Virginia briefing with reporters this summer, where Youngkins political team laid out its priorities for November, cost of living, safety and education were mentioned as the three issues they believe Republican voters care most about.

Abortion was not on that list. In fact, the topic didnt even come up until a reporter asked about it.

I dont think its the priority, said Republican state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, a practicing OB-GYN. I think that Democrats want to make it a priority.

Dunnavant, who is in a tough re-election fight, agreed with Youngkin's camp that 15 weeks seemed just about right. Its compassionate, and its consensus, she said. Fifteen weeks gives ample opportunity.

According to a recent Gallup survey, nearly 70% of Americans believe abortion should be legal during the first three months of pregnancy. And there's some evidence that Republican voters might be as satisfied with a 15-week restriction on the procedure as they are with more stringent bans that have turned off independent and Democratic voters. A recent NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll of Iowa Republicans found close to the same percentage supported the state's six-week abortion ban (60% said it gets the issue "about right") as those who said they were more likely (54%) to support a hypothetical candidate who backed a 15-week ban.

Virginia allows abortions up to 26 weeks and six days of pregnancy through the first two trimesters with exceptions in the third trimester if three physicians find that the womans health is at risk. Earlier this year, Democrats, who control the state Senate, prevented several pieces of abortion-related legislation from moving forward, including one that would have limited abortion after 15 weeks.

Democrats are betting that any new threats to abortion rights will help them in November. State House Democrats last week launched a series of digital ads highlighting abortion restrictions in other states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and warned voters that Virginia could be next if Republicans gained a majority in the state legislature this year. Republicans, for their part, have fired back with an ad first shared with NBC News that paints Democrats as extreme on abortion.

They want to continue to downplay and dismiss womens rights and abortion rights, like women dont have a voice, Democratic state Sen. Aaron Rouse, focus on abortion rights helped him win a special election in the Virginia Beach area this year, said of Republicans. Women have been very loud and clear in the state of Virginia: Dont touch my rights, my freedom, when it comes to making a really tough health care decision.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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Virginia Gov. Youngkin eyes a 15-week abortion ban as a 'consensus' voters would back - Yahoo News

Former President Donald Trump at a rally at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Aug. 12. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

So far, the fact that former President Donald Trump has been criminally indicted four times this year has done little to dent his support among Republican voters.

But what if hes eventually convicted?

A new Yahoo News/YouGov poll has found that in that scenario, even some current Trump supporters could start to have second thoughts about casting their ballots for him in 2024.

The survey of 1,665 U.S. adults was conducted from Aug. 17 to 21 after the news of Trumps most recent indictment, for allegedly orchestrating a racketeering ring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, had some time to sink in, but before he surrendered Thursday at the Fulton County Jail.

The results are striking.

Asked about their current preference for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, a full 52% of potential Republican primary voters that is, voters who identify as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents select Trump. That makes him the partys undisputed frontrunner, with the next closest candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, trailing by 40 percentage points.

But when the same voters are asked a new follow-up question If Trump is convicted of a serious crime in the coming months, who would you vote for in your states 2024 Republican primary? support for the former president suddenly plummets by 17 points (to just 35%). Support for DeSantis, on the other hand, rises by 8 points (to 20%). Another 17% say theyre not sure (up from 14%). No other candidate gains more than a point or two.

Asking registered voters who they would vote for in next years general election if Trump is convicted of a serious crime produces a similar (though smaller) shift. In that case, support for President Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, holds steady at 47%. But support for Trump falls by 3 points, from 41% to 38%, while the overall number of voters who say they're not sure (9%) or that they would not vote (6%) increases by 3 points.

That gives Biden a 9-point lead.

In 2020, Biden defeated Trump by 4.5 percentage points nationwide enough for a 306-232 Electoral College victory. If Biden were to double his previous margin in 2024, Trump would lose in a landslide. By the same token, if Trump were to shed 17 points of GOP primary support in Iowa, the first caucus state, his lead there would shrink to single digits, according to the latest polling.

For observers who have long wondered if anything could ever loosen Trumps iron grip on the GOP, such numbers offer a provisional answer: perhaps being found guilty of serious crimes and possibly even sentenced to prison on the brink of a high-stakes presidential election.

(Asked at Wednesdays GOP primary debate if they would still support the nomination of a convicted Trump, six of his eight rivals everyone except former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said yes. DeSantis hesitated and made sure others were raising their hands before raising his.)

To be sure, these Trump conviction scenarios are all very hypothetical. The former president's trials havent started yet, and they might not conclude before voters go to the polls, either in key primary states or in the general election. He may be acquitted in the end. Unless the rest of the GOP can coalesce around a single alternative, 35% of the primary vote could still be enough to secure Trump the nomination.

And even if the former president is found guilty of serious crimes in the coming months, supporters who currently express hesitation about backing a convicted felon or say theyd skip voting altogether might find a way to rationalize returning to the fold when primary day or Election Day actually arrives.

Yet for Trump and for the party poised to nominate him again real signs of danger remain.

For one thing, large majorities of Americans say the crimes hes been accused of are, in fact, serious:

Falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to a porn star: 54% serious crime, 34% not a serious crime

Taking highly classified documents from the White House and obstructing efforts to retrieve them: 66% serious crime, 20% not a serious crime

Conspiring to overturn the results of a presidential election: 70% serious crime, 17% not a serious crime

Attempting to obstruct the certification of a presidential election: 70% serious crime, 17% not a serious crime

For the last two offenses Trumps alleged election crimes even Republicans are more likely to consider them serious (47%) than not (32-33%).

Second, just 27% of Americans believe there should be no criminal cases against Trump at all. A combined 56% say either that there should be more criminal cases against Trump (28%); that the number of cases is appropriate (18%); or that there should be some charges against Trump even if four cases is too many (10%). Indictment fatigue is not a big issue, at least not yet.

Finally, most Americans already think Trump should be found guilty on some or all charges in the election cases, both at the federal level (54%) and in Georgia (52%). Less than a third (32% and 31%, respectively) say he should not be convicted.

As usual, the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll found a clear and consistent pattern of partisan polarization around the Trump indictments. Across the board, slightly less than half of Americans (48% on average) approved of the decision to indict him in each separate case, while slightly more than a third (35% on average) disapproved.

The problem for the former president is that 35% or even 38%, his head-to-head number against Biden if convicted is not enough to win.

In 2020, Trump received nearly 47% of the national popular vote; he still lost by 7 million ballots. To mount a successful comeback in 2024, he will need to expand his support, not shed it. Getting convicted of a serious crime between now and then is likely to be a step in the wrong direction.

____________

The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,665 U.S. adults interviewed online from Aug. 17 to 21, 2023. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondents most recent answer given prior to March 15, 2022, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (32% Democratic, 27% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.8%.

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Poll: Trump could be in big trouble for 2024 if convicted of crimes - Yahoo News

Tatiana Maslany faced down her fears of heights and cold in Running Wild with Bear Grylls. (National Geographic)

Actress Tatiana Maslany has played some pretty tough characters on hit shows like Orphan Black and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but it turns out she has a few major fears in real life that she was able to face head-on during Sundays Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge.

Host Grylls invited Maslany to the Laramie Mountains in Wyoming during winter for what was an up-and-down adventure literally. And it started by going down, as in the two of them rappelling down a 150-foot cliff. Right away, Maslany had her reservations.

Its so steep, I cant even see the bottom. And Im mild to moderately to maximumly afraid of heights. So this is gonna be very fun, she said with a nervous laugh.

The actress reiterated her fear of heights and admitted to having jelly legs before finally bringing herself to go over the edge. Slowly and steadily she made her way down, with comments from Grylls along the way like, have a look down and youre looking like a pro.

Maslany was speechless for a moment after she reached the bottom, and then Grylls asked about her legs.

More like a jelly spine at this point. That was insane, Maslany said, later adding: I feel elated, and I might cry in two seconds cuz thats Im riding that emotion. I feel very proud. That was super fun.

And while Maslany was feeling good about herself, Grylls was also impressed from his point of view.

For Tatiana to do that as her first rappel, someone whos scared of heights, respect, he said. No surprise that at the bottom is a bit of emotion, thats why the wild is beautiful. It shakes us like rag dolls but leaves us smiling in the end. Its magical.

Later, after pulling bone marrow from the limbs of a rotting elk for dinner that night, Grylls broke the news to Maslany that she was going to have to be submerged in freezing cold water the next day before she could be extracted from the location. And after practicing with just her hand in icy cold water, Maslany was somewhat hesitant.

There was definitely a point where I was like, Im just gonna, like, tap out here. So I'm freaking out about tomorrow, I gotta be honest. Uh, totally different level of fear, she said.

Maslany later admitted while the bone marrow was coming to a boil that along with heights she is also afraid of the cold and of being sick and throwing up, hence the reason she wasnt super stoked about the bone marrow, either.

But Maslany ate her dinner and when it came time to do the cold water plunge the next day, she was ready. After getting in, her gasp reflex quickly took over, and Grylls was there to help her get it under control. After a few moments, it was time to get back out and dry off she did it.

I am totally buzzing, Maslany said afterward. I was in a different state in my body than I've ever experienced before. And to have this, like, euphoria afterward is amazing.

Grylls said her ability to do the survival stunt was amazing and was happy to see that she picked up a few lessons to take with her back to the real world.

Shes learned that vital thing, that the only way to get over the things that were scared of in life is by doing them, Grylls said. Thats her real superpower.

Running Wild with Bear Grylls airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on National Geographic.

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Experts say being lazy and chilling out can be good for us -- within reason. Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Getty Images

There is a joy to being lazy. And believe it or not, some health benefits too. Whether youre cruising through episodes of your favorite show so you can trade notes on the finale with friends or indulging in that comfort flick youve seen a million times, youve inevitably found yourself prioritizing chill time on the couch over time spent ticking to-dos off your list. Estimates show that in 2023, the majority of Americans spend two hours and 33 minutes per day watching TV.

Taking a break to do something you find pleasurable can trigger the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which are associated with feelings of pleasure and happiness, Sanam Hafeez, a licensed psychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind in New York City, tells Yahoo Life. Theres also a case for leaning on loafing whether youre watching TV, getting lost in a book you cant put down or simply scrolling through cat memes on Instagram to recharge and reduce burnout. But, as with anything, moderation is key.

Heres what Hafeez, other experts and science have to say about the psychological benefits of chilling out on the couch sometimes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that the majority of Americans are too sedentary, given that more than 60 percent of U.S. adults are struggling to hit the recommended amount of daily activity. At the same time, hustle culture which centers on work above all else cant help but affect how we feel about finding time to chill out. Slowing down and spending time catching up on episodes of Succession may actually feel more like a guilty pleasure than something you can easily accept as part of your routine. Weve been so socialized from a young age that achievement needs to be a top value, Lauren Cook, a Pasadena-based psychologist, tells Yahoo Life. We equate productivity with worth, and we think that if were not producing, then were a failure. This is a systemic issue that so many people are struggling with.

Colleen Marshall, a licensed marriage and family therapist and vice president of clinical care at Two Chairs, agrees, telling Yahoo Life that if youre not spending time on an activity thats connected to making progress on your goals, youre letting yourself down. The problem with that, though, is that all of us need to have some way of de-stressing and [taking] breaks from that constant flow, she explains, equating chill-out time for most people to rest days for athletes. They have a leg day, and then they dont work on legs for a while. Thats how you actually build muscle to work and then have a break.

Marshall acknowledges that de-stressing activities, like watching TV or reading a book, may seem unproductive or as though youre wasting time, but theyre actually helping you rest and recharge.

In other words, as Cook points out, rest is productive. We have to be boundaried with our rest time and say to ourselves, I am going to take this time and I do not need to choose to buy into the guilt that may come with that. Im taking the rest of the night off, she says.

Loafing isnt only a way to step back from work to rest and recharge. In moderation, its also an opportunity to enjoy a variety of psychological benefits, points out Hafeez.

Several perks of taking time to cuddle up and catch up on your favorite show:

Rest and relaxation allow your brain to wander and make new connections, explains Hafeez. This can foster creativity and innovative thinking. For example, in a 2022 study, watching nature videos was associated with the promotion of alpha brain waves, which are linked to relaxation, daydreaming and creativity.

A 2020 study published in the journal Psychology and Agingfound that older adults who spent more time sitting excelled at knowledge-based activities like vocabulary, reading comprehension and reasoning tasks. The researchers concluded that this may be owed to the fact that sedentary time is often also time spent on brain-stimulating activities, whether thats reading a nonfiction book or doing a crossword puzzle.

Whether youre carving out time to get caught up on And Just Like That... or that buzzy new celebrity autobiography, youll benefit from chilling out in a way that ultimately fuels connection with others, whether in real time or down the road.

Binge-watching can be an entryway for conversation, Jamie Schenk DeWitt, a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in Los Angeles, tells Yahoo Life. You may see somebody the next day, and you say, Did you watch the recent episode of Succession? It was so good, she notes. And you start talking, and you both get really excited. And you may ask them, What did you make of it?

In turn, discussing your shared experience can lead to a surge of oxytocin, the bonding neurotransmitter, says DeWitt, which has anti-stress effects like reducing blood pressure and cortisol levels. In that way, it can be a positive experience for your whole body, she says.

Consistently working without taking breaks can lead to burnout, points out Hafeez. On the other hand, finding time to disconnect from work-related stressors makes it possible to recharge your mental and emotional energy. That way, once you do get back to traditionally productive tasks, you can tackle them with renewed vigor.

Just as overwork takes a toll on your overall well-being, the same is true for carving out too much time for loafing. For instance, research has shown that moderate or severe depression is associated with more TV watching and other screen time.

And an abundance of sedentary behavior can also heighten a variety of health risks. For example, the CDC points out that not getting enough physical activity can lead to heart disease, even for people who have no other risk factors, and can boost the chances of developing other heart disease risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. The CDC adds that recommended physical activity can also reduce the risk of many cancers, like cancers of the breast, colon and uterus.

In short, its a must to ask yourself if youre chilling out to the point that youre forgoing behaviors that are integral to your overall health and well-being. DeWitt advises asking yourself the following questions:

Are you binge-watching at the deficit of doing physical exercise, connecting with friends, getting enough sleep?

Is it impeding your daily functioning and your ability to thrive?

Are you using it as a tool or a mechanism to avoid things in your life that you dont want to deal with?

If any of the answers is yes, it is likely advisable to cut back. When it comes to knowing the ideal amount of time to spend loafing, know that its not one-size-fits-all, explains DeWitt. [Theres a difference between] somebody who has a busy week and is so productive and may say to themselves, Sunday, I am binge-watching that show, and I feel great about it versus somebody else whos really been avoiding confronting [challenges] in their life, and things are piling up, and they havent gotten their mail all week, and then, Sunday, they say the same thing, she says.

No matter which restful activity to opt to dive into when youre loafing, youll do well to truly embrace it, says Marshall. If Im going to watch an hour of Gilmore Girls, I should do it fully, she recommends. I should be fully present in the moment, enjoying the show instead of thinking about my meeting tomorrow or the laundry I need to finish.

In turn, youll be practicing mindfulness, which can improve physical health, reduce stress and bring more joy and happiness into your life, she says. Ultimately, opting to engage entirely with whichever de-stressing activity appeals the most can leave you feeling fulfilled and better than you did before you watched your favorite show or read your current, go-to book, says Marshall. She concludes, When we feel better, were more productive and successful.

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Don't feel guilty about being lazy. Experts say there are some health benefits. - Yahoo Life

Paolo Banchero of Team USA shoots a 3 during the FIBA World Cup Group C game against New Zealand at Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 26, 2023, in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

MANILA, Philippines The New Zealand national team huddled at the opposite foul line from Team USA, then broke into a fiery rendition of the Kiwis notable haka dance. It proved more than a series of elbow thrusts and ceremonial stomps. New Zealand punched the mighty Americans square in their collective jaws to open Team USAs first game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Saturday, commanding an early 14-4 lead over the presumptive tournament favorites.

They came out right away and were very physical and took it to us, said Team USA head coach Steve Kerr. We need to feel that, because thats what these games are going to be like.

Team USA coughed up three turnovers in the opening two minutes. Starting point guard Jalen Brunson stutter-stepped into the lane, only to leave several floaters bouncing on the front iron. Anthony Edwards found his pocket stripped clean on several occasions. I gotta come out a lot better, for sure, Edwards said. They was picking up full court all game.

But the American reserves, particularly the zippy playmaking from Austin Reaves and Tyrese Haliburton, managed to reclaim the lead by the end of the opening quarter, took a nine-point advantage into intermission and blew the contest open in the third frame, thanks to a flurry of triples from backup big man Paolo Banchero eventually capping a runaway 99-72 victory at Mall of Asia Arena.

I love the way we responded, Kerr said. We feel like over 40 minutes, we can wear teams down. Its hard to play that way, as physical as New Zealand was. Its hard to sustain that for 40 minutes.

The Kiwis scouted the Americans switching defensive scheme and barreled their way into the paint on possession after possession, targeting Brunson and even Team USAs skinnier, lanky wings in Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram. For the last two, three weeks, weve really been training those coverages, said Reuben Te Rangi, New Zealands 6-foot-6 swingman, who finished with 15 points. We knew the reads and what we wanted to get out of it.

Eventually, Team USA managed a consistent resistance around the rim. They were just a physical group of guys. They were really physical, Haliburton said. I just thought we did a good job when they were getting into the paint, just being high hands. [At first], we fouled too much.

The American reserves had specialized in clamping down on opposing attacks and turning stops into offense throughout their five-game exhibition slate prior to the World Cup.

That starts on the defensive end, Reaves said. So the intensitys gotta be super high on that. And once we have that, it kind of makes the game easy, because were able to play in transition.

Strength and size, though, are some of the bigger question marks for Kerrs roster, which is a collaboration between the head coach and Team USA managing director Grant Hill. If there is an Achilles heel that more formidable opponents can threaten the Americans, look no further.

The only true center among these 12 players is Rookie of the Year finalist and Utah Jazz 7-footer Walker Kessler, who is only expected to play limited minutes throughout this run in the Philippines. Jaren Jackson Jr., Team USAs starting center, primarily plays power forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, and his eagerness to swat shots around the rim has left the reigning Defensive Player of the Year susceptible to foul trouble throughout his young NBA career, despite his obvious success protecting the rim.

Sure enough, Jackson found himself in and out of the lineup against New Zealand, thanks to whistle after whistle against the soaring shot blocker. Kerr was forced to repeatedly call on Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and the face of the Orlando Magic franchise responded and then some. Kerr informed Banchero early in training camp he envisioned the Duke product, typically a perimeter ball-handler, as the Americans reserve center. Its fair to say Banchero has taken that mantle and ran with it.

Being in the World Cup, my role is my role. I kind of have accepted it, Banchero said. I just want to do it to the best of my ability. J.J., hes a great player. I gotta be able to pick up where he left off when he comes out the game.

Banchero was a force in the paint, rejecting four New Zealand shots throughout the contest, several of which sparked those runaway opportunities that Haliburton and Reaves were so eagerly hunting. And in the decisive third quarter stretch, Banchero came alive with the ball in his hands.

He checked into the game less than two minutes into the second half as Jackson was called for his third personal, then cashed a baseline jumper two possessions later. He drew a foul on a feed from Reaves and converted both attempts. Next, Banchero pulled up for a midrange jumper. His back-to-back 3-pointers at the end of the frame, the second a smooth step-back on the left wing, helped Team USA open an 18-point edge before the final quarter. They were the first two triples Banchero has made during live-game action with the Americans this summer after he and the rest of this roster finally took the floor in Manila on Saturday after arriving in the Philippines on Tuesday.

I was just waiting for this World Cup to start, man, said Banchero, who led Team USA with 21 points. When the lights is on, Im ready to go. Im ready. Im here.

The Americans step back into the shining spectacle at Mall of Asia Arena on Monday, with an 8:40 a.m. ET tip against Greece.

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Center Paolo Banchero helps Team USA power past physical New Zealand in FIBA World Cup - Yahoo Sports

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. Tua Tagovailoa began to let his guard down last season, when Mike McDaniel took over as Miami Dolphins head coach.

But this year?

I can say this year that Tua has definitely come out of his shell, seven-time Pro Bowl receiver Tyreek Hill told Yahoo Sports on Thursday after practice. After his comments yesterday to Ryan Clark? I don't think we've ever seen that side right there. I don't think weve ever seen that.

And that's the side I love right there. That fires me up right there.

Hill was referencing his quarterbacks request that ESPN's Ryan Clark keep my name out your mouth, Tagovailoas rebuke ultimately prompting the analyst to apologize Thursday morning.

Clark, a 13-year former NFL defensive back, apologized in writing and in a recorded message.

When I decided to do TV I had 2 main priorities, Clark wrote in a tweet. 1. Respect all NFL players, coaches, executives and staff members. 2. Earn and keep the respect of those very same people.

I do my best to be honest when executing my job as well as being honest when I fall short. I fell short on Monday and for that, I genuinely apologize.

Clark said in a Monday segment on ESPNs NFL Live studio show that Tagovailoa this offseason wasnt in the gym, I bet you that and was not at the dinner table eating what the nutritionist had advised. He compared Tagovailoa, who bulked up 10 pounds this offseason in hopes of protecting himself from injuries that have plagued his career, to a stripper.

I come from a Samoan family where respect is everything, Tagovailoa said Wednesday. But it does get to a point where hey, little easy on that, buddy. Because I think were pretty tough-minded people, and if we need to get scrappy, we can get scrappy, too.

Id appreciate if you kept my name out your mouth.

Hill said the comments werent just unkind they were also untrue. The receiver praised the work ethic he witnessed up close in about four joint training sessions at Tagovailoas gym this offseason.

The guy would actually put in work, said Hill, who caught 70% of targets last season for a team-best 1,710 receiving yards. He was outworking me. And Im like one of them dudes who will stay in the gym all day.

In his recorded video, Clark said that he intended his comments jokingly rather than in question of Tagovailoas work ethic and commitment. He reiterated his desire to operate with respect.

Anything contrary to that, then Ive got to check myself.

Clark said initially his response to Tagovailoas comments about getting scrappy was or what?

Man, I fed my family on violence, Clark continued. I aint tripping on that. But thats the pride that doesn't enable me to see what this dudes going through. The constant criticisms, constant scrutiny, constantly being questioned, feeling the stress of always having to prove yourself. ...

It was, what I can consider now, a bad joke. But for me, its been a lesson. Ill be better.

McDaniel, speaking in a Thursday news conference before the teams final practice of training camp, didnt directly acknowledge Clark or Tagovailoas comments. But he gave a lengthy response detailing Tagovailoas top-five offseason among Dolphins players. McDaniel emphasized that he (unlike somebody else, it seemed) could speak hard facts that Ive seen with my own eyes.

You want to talk about someone whos committed to doing what hes doing for the right reasons? McDaniel said. You want to talk about every metric that [head strength and conditioning coach] Dave Puloka and his strength staff tracks, which is pretty much everything to the degree of blinks? Every metric of strength that is measured, [Tagovailoa has] shattered his previous highs. In some instances, hes almost twice as strong with things. And thats been a daily commitment that he hasnt wavered from.

McDaniel praised how his quarterback has taken his nutrition to another level and really thought outside the box on how to prepare his body. Tagovailoa said Wednesday hed prefer to be lighter, but understands why this weight along with offseason falling practice in jiu-jitsu can help protect him following the career-threatening concussions he suffered last season.

I couldnt be happier with the work hes put in and what Ive factually viewed from my own eyes, McDaniel said. Basically youre happy for guys as a coach when you can see in the present that down the road theyre going to have no regrets. You know that, without any shade of gray, youve put your best foot forward. And he really has.

His teammates would agree: We are getting the absolute best version of Tua thats existed.

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Tyreek Hill says Tua's response to ESPN criticism 'fires me up,' shows Dolphins something they've never seen - Yahoo Sports

After two-plus hours of competition Wednesday, there was still no women's pole vault winner at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

So American Katie Moon and Australian Nina Kennedy agreed to share gold. It's the first time in the history of the World Athletics Championships that two gold medals were awarded in the same event. There was no silver medalist in the competition.

After bronze medalist Wilma Murto topped out at 4.8 meters, the competition came down to Moon and Kennedy. As Moon watched, Kennedy set the high mark and an Australian record with a jump of 4.9 meters.

The mark matched Moon's gold-medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics.

Then Moon had a chance to match Kennedy, and she succeeded with a vault that left the bar wobbling but intact.

She stood up beaming from her vault as the competition carried on. Next up for both competitors 4.95 meters a personal best for Moon, which she set at the 2021 U.S. Olympic trials.

But she didn't match it Wednesday. Neither did Kennedy. Both athletes tried and missed at 4.95 meters on three separate jumps. At that point, the pair had a choice: go to a jump-off or agree to share gold.

With cameras focused on them, they met for a conversation at the end of the track to figure out how to proceed. There, they smiled, shared a hug and came away from the meeting each with a share of the world championship.

"To win a gold medal, it is just a dream come true," Kennedy said after the competition, per Reuters. "I knew I could get on the podium, but it was a miracle to get the gold. So I think a miracle happened tonight."

Moon told reporters that she was satisfied with the outcome after a stirring competition with her rival.

"What a battle it was," she said. "When it became obvious that only Nina and I were still jumping, the show had just started. I think we both motivated each other. When she had a good attempt, I also wanted to have it.

"It was tiring but worth the effort. What an amazing night. I hope everyone enjoyed that one. We did."

While the shared gold is a first for the World Athletics Championships, it's not unprecedented. Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi agreed to shared gold in the high-jump competition at the Tokyo Olympics. Like Kennedy and Moon, they decided against a jump-off after remaining tied at the top of their competition.

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USA's Katie Moon, Australia's Nina Kennedy agree to share pole vault gold after tie atop World Athletics Championships - Yahoo Sports

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette and third baseman Matt Chapman both left Sunday's extra-innings loss to the Cleveland Guardians with injuries.

Bichette exited with right quad tightness in the top of the sixth inning after jogging gingerly to first base on a groundout the inning prior. Santiago Espinal replaced Bichette at shortstop and in the No. 1 spot in the batting order.

Bichette returned from the injured list on Aug. 19 after suffering a knee injury on July 31. Manager John Schneider told reporters after the game that it's unrelated to the previous ailment and that Bichette was lifted for precautionary reasons. Schneider added that Bichette has been "feeling it" in his quad and playing through it.

Losing Bichette for any period of time would be a devastating blow to a Blue Jays team fighting for its playoff life. Bichette has been the club's best offensive player in 2023, hitting .316 with 18 home runs. His 152 hits lead the American League.

Chapman departed with right middle finger inflammation, an issue that sidelined him for several days earlier this month. The 30-year-old is headed for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, per Schneider.

With trade deadline acquisition Paul DeJong surprisingly designated for assignment last weekend, Espinal figures to shoulder shortstop or third base duties if Bichette or Chapman are only out for a couple days. Toronto has a number of minor-leaguers who could earn a promotion if either infielder's injury requires an IL stint.

Ernie Clement appeared in 13 games with the Blue Jays earlier in 2023 and has put together a strong season at Triple-A Buffalo, hitting .346 with a .944 OPS in 68 contests.

The Blue Jays could also give the nod to one of Addison Barger or Orelvis Martinez, who are more highly touted prospects. Barger, 23, would give Toronto another powerful left-handed bat. His numbers with Buffalo have been strong over the past 28 days, slashing .319/.434/.507 during that span.

Martinez has only spent 31 games at Triple-A, so the Blue Jays may prefer to be more patient with their prized 21-year-old.

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Blue Jays' Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman leave game vs. Guardians with injuries - Yahoo Sports

Things got heated late on Sunday afternoon in St. Petersburg.

Yet the Tampa Bay Rays, despite the benches clearing twice in their 7-4 win over the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field, arent taking it too personally.

We dont need to worry about it. We need to focus on what we need to do down the stretch.

The benches and bullpens cleared twice in the eighth inning, though no punches were thrown and things remained relatively calm, considering the circumstances. The incident erupted after Tampa outfielder Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch from Albert Abreu. Several players had to be held back, though coaches and officials eventually cleared the field and play resumed.

Then, after Arozarena stole second and third, he started yelling at Abreu on the mound. That sparked the second clearing.

Arozarena was one of four Rays players to be hit by a pitch Sunday. Arozarena was hit twice by the Yankees in their May matchup, including once by Abreu.

"I think it was on purpose," Arozarena said through an interpruter, via The Associated Press. "If you look back at [the] previous series, he's hit me before. I've been hit in previous series before that. They hurt Yandy [Daz] the other day, they hit [Isaac] Paredes in the head, so I think it probably was an issue for them."

Abreu denied that he hit Arozarena on purpose.

The game was the latest example of the Yankees struggling season. The loss dropped the Yankees to 62-68 on the season, their lowest point under .500 this year. The team hasnt finished with a losing record in 30 seasons, and hasnt missed the playoffs since 2016. The Yankees havent won a series in their past nine outings. They sit in last in the AL East, and are 11 games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League.

The Rays are two games back from the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles and are six games up in the AL wild-card race. Lowe hit a home run in the first inning, which followed an Arozarena run. Harold Ramrez hit a two-run single in the sixth, and Lowe followed suit with a two-run single of his own, which put the Rays up 6-4 at the time. Lowe then hit an RBI double in the eighth to score Arozarena, which got Tampa to the three-run win.

The Rays will play two games against the Miami Marlins before heading to Cleveland for a three-game series against the Guardians on Friday. Though tempers flared, the Yankees and Rays will almost certainly have to wait until next season to resolve their issues.

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Benches clear twice as Rays roll past Yankees 7-4: 'It's a last-place team' - Yahoo Sports

An extended holdout through the first half of the season could cost Chris Jones roughly $10 million in fines. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Chris Jones has upped the stakes on his holdout with Week 1 of the NFL season on the horizon.

On Tuesday, a fan on social media asked the All-Pro defensive tackle when he planned to return to the Kansas City Chiefs. He responded succinctly: "Week 8."

That means Jones is willing to miss almost half the season in search of a new deal. Or at least, so he says.

If the holdout reaches that point, Jones is putting a lot of agreed-upon money at risk. He has already racked up a hefty fine, with his holdout costing him $50,000 for each day of training camp missed. Once the holdout reaches the regular season, the stakes significantly increase.

Per the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, players under contract who extend their holdouts to the regular season are fined a game check for each game missed. Jones is entering the final year of a four-year, $80 million deal and is due $20 million in 2023. That adds up to roughly $1.18 million per game. Extended over seven games, Jones would be risking roughly $8.2 million in fines in addition to his training camp and preseason tally, which will add up to more than $1.4 million.

He says he's not worried about it.

Jones, 29, is seeking a raise after outplaying the terms of his current deal. He has made the Pro Bowl each of the past four seasons and was first-team All-Pro in 2022 on a Chiefs team that won the Super Bowl. He tallied a career-high 15.5 sacks last season, in addition to 44 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four passes defended.

Per The Athletic's Nate Taylor, Jones seeks to be rewarded as the league's second-highest paid player at his position, behind three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. Donald is playing on a three-year, $95 million deal worth $31.67 million annually. The Athletic reports that Jones is seeking $30 million per year, but the two sides remain on different pages.

The Chiefs open their Super Bowl defense against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Through Week 7, they'll face the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams. Two of those games are against teams (Jaguars, Jets) reasonably intent on challenging the Chiefs for AFC supremacy.

The sooner this gets settled, the better for all involved parties.

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All-Pro Chris Jones says hes willing to extend Chiefs holdout through Week 8 - Yahoo Sports